Many in education—and many beyond—are talking about Alpha School right now. Alpha has been featured in dozens of articles in the mainstream and education media outlets. Its leadership has appeared on countless podcasts to explain and dissect its school model and explore the bigger opportunity to rethink schooling. 

On this episode of Class Disrupted, Mackenzie Price, co-founder of the Alpha School, joined Michael and Diane not to explain Alpha School’s model, but instead to dive deep into how Alpha School is leveraging AI to radically rethink the school experience. The intent behind this conversation is more on how AI itself is being leveraged at Alpha—from the core academic block to the afternoon spent in real-world projects and life skills development. What’s possible now in school design that wasn’t possible a decade earlier thanks to AI? 

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Diane and Michael sat down with Paymon Rouhanifard, CEO of Timely, to explore how AI optimization can transform master scheduling in schools. The conversation unpacked the critical role that master schedules play in shaping student experiences, resource allocation, and district priorities. Paymon explained the pain points schools face with traditional scheduling methods and how Timely’s AI-driven approach saves hundreds of hours while enabling systemic change and better use of resources.

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Michael and Diane stepped back from their interviews to have a one-on-one conversation and reflect at the midpoint of their season on AI in education. They dove into the evolving role of AI in education and questioned whether AI is truly transforming the system or simply being layered onto outdated structures. They explored a framework of three school models that Diane posed and discussed the challenges of meaningful innovation amidst existing accountability systems and education policies. From these models, they analyzed how one might expect transformational change to occur in K–12 schooling—through traditional schools incrementally changing and evolving over time or, as Michael and Diane both argued, through fundamental migration away from the existing system.

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Irina Jurenka, the research lead for AI in education at Google DeepMind, joined Michael and Diane to discuss the development and impact of AI tutors in learning. The conversation delved into how generative AI, specifically the Gemini model, is being shaped to support pedagogical principles and foster more effective learning experiences. Irina shares insights from her team’s foundational research, the evolution of AI models over the past three years, and the challenges of aligning AI tutoring with the learning sciences. Irina closed with reflecting on how these innovations may shape the future of education for the next generation—with a hope for a thoughtful blending of technology with the irreplaceable role of human teachers.

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Michael and Diane are joined by Laurence Holt to unpack the current landscape and future potential of AI in K–12 education. The discussion centers on the three main AI use cases emerging in schools: generating materials, providing feedback, and AI tutoring. The conversation explores the vital difference between feedback and grading, the importance of instructional context for effective AI tools, and the complex challenges in cultivating curiosity and self-efficacy in classrooms. The trio also delves into why AI tutoring isn’t yet transformative for most students, the limitations of current chatbots, and the need for school model redesigns and tools that support social learning and durable skills.

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Michael and Diane sit down with Alex Kotran, founder and CEO of the AI Education Project (AIEDU), to dive into what true “AI readiness” means for today’s students, educators, and schools. They explored the difference between basic AI literacy and the broader, more dynamic goal of preparing young people to thrive in a world fundamentally changed by artificial intelligence. The conversation ranged from the challenges schools face in adapting assessments and teaching practices for the age of AI, to the uncertainties surrounding the future of work. The episode leaves listeners with some key questions about the role of education, the need for adaptable skills, and how we can collectively steer the education system toward a future where all students benefit from the rise of AI.

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Diane and Michael dive into the impact of AI on schools with guest Reed Hastings, founder of Netflix and a dedicated education advocate. The conversation explores Reed’s pragmatic optimism about AI’s potential to individualize learning, reshape the roles of teachers, and revolutionize assessment practices. Reed shares his belief that while AI will transform many aspects of education, it’s crucial for schools to nurture citizenship, social-emotional skills, and a foundation of knowledge independent of technology. The episode also touches on future models for schools, equity in an AI-driven future, and practical examples of how AI is currently enhancing reading and math instruction.

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Diane and Michael sit down with Dr. Tom Lee, acclaimed physician and founder of One Medical and Galileo Health, to explore the parallels between healthcare and education in the age of AI. The conversation dives into how Dr. Lee’s mission to radically transform healthcare systems mirrors similar challenges and opportunities in education, especially around the adoption and integration of AI. They discuss shifting from legacy models to more holistic, technology-enabled frameworks that prioritize both personalized service and systemic change.

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Michael and Diane sit down with Neerav Kingsland, a longtime education leader now at Anthropic, to explore the evolving intersection of artificial intelligence and education. Neerav shares his journey from working in New Orleans’ public school reform to his current role at one of the leading AI companies. The conversation covers the promise of AI tutors and teacher support tools, the key role of application “wrappers” for safe and effective student interaction with AI, and the need for humility and caution, especially with young learners. The episode also delves into the broader societal impacts of AI, the future evolution of schools, and the increasing importance of experimentation and risk-taking for students navigating an uncertain, tech-driven landscape.

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Class Disrupted is back for season 7! In this kickoff episode, Diane Tavenner and Michael Horn reconnected after the summer to reflect on how artificial intelligence is shaping the education landscape. They discussed lingering skepticism about AI’s current use in schools and shared their evolving feelings about the technology. The hosts described their plans for the new season, which starts with a broad look at AI’s development both inside and beyond education, before narrowing in on entrepreneurs and real-world applications that could reinvent learning.

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